Who Says the Spyder isn’t a Motorcycle?

Motorcycles can have three wheels…or four…or one

After I posted the preview for the new Spyders, the forum board got me fired up again. Every time I write about something eccentric, the progeny of Merriam Webster like to write in and remind me that Spyders aren’t motorcycles. I would disagree, but no one will remember this next time no matter what I say, I’d put money on that.

There’s a difference between what you believe and what you know. Nowhere in the construct of the word motorcycle does it suggest a limit on the number of wheels. Are you riding motor-bicycles? Are you riding at all? KPaul? The very ‘first’ motorcycle had 4 wheels by the way. Damn you facts!

What would be your opinion on the Enicycle? Or a trike? Don’t answer that….

How about we just call the Spyder a motor-tricycle? Better yet, let’s call it a Reitwagen (riding car) from now on. And, yes, I got that from Wikipedia.

Although motorcycles are most commonly two-wheeled motor vehicles, they can be so much more. The world isn’t flat anymore! And if you don’t like choppers, sport bikes, dualies or whizzers, don’t ride ’em. That just leaves more for me to ride!

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Sure the trike’s might not encompass the overall rawness of a standard bike but what about the TriRod, Brudeli, or even the Trex, but you still completely exposed and although rolling over is not much of an option, they still can get sideways. They are definitely not my choice of bikes (strip it all out and make it big, loud and simple) but I feel they should be called a motorcycle none the less.

http://www.squidoo.com/womenmotorcycleriders J-Nine

I LOVE the idea of the CanAm Spyder! Maybe it is the safety factor perceived by having extra wheels and support on this vehicle, or maybe it is bc it seems to be somewhat “from the future”. Either way, it should be classified at a motor-bike in my opinion!

I still admit that I love my little Ninja, but if I could afford another “play toy”, it would be the CanAm!

Jabba

Lame … it’s just a snowmobile on wheels. Lame machine for lame people. Let it die.

tx-rider

Three wheels + engine = trike. What’s so wrong with calling this thing a trike?

David

i have spent quite a number of hours on a Spyder. Most riders could not get even 20% of how fast they can go in the twistys and even when it rains you dont need to slow down. as for calling it a motor bike i think that Can-am call it a ROADSTER !!!!!

Chopper

“Lame?) It’s a TRIKE! Not a Motorcycle, Sidecar or a SUV!!!

Douglas W Michaud

lOOKSGOOD,CAN SEE IT SERVING THE PURPOSE OF OLDER GENTS AND LADIES TOO,PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH HAND INJURIES OR ARTHRITIS.THE THUMB SHIFTING MINUS THE CLUTCH REALLY OPENS THE DOORS TO MANY MORE RIDERS

Tim Whitfield

A unique bold new look !!! Where can I get one ????

Lyle Travis

I have a ultra for myself and love it, tried my wife on a 2 wheel bike and to much going on at the same time for her, she dropped it, a bit balanced challenged. The spyder solved all this for her. We are waiting for the warm season and our first bike trip together each on our own machines. Definetly a market for this type of ride

Pete

Lyle Travis
I have a ultra for myself and love it, tried my wife on a 2 wheel bike and to much going on at the same time for her, she dropped it, a bit balanced challenged. The spyder solved all this for her. We are waiting for the warm season and our first bike trip together each on our own machines. Definetly a market for this type of ride

Same story here, riding Harley FXSTDSE and FLSTF, my wife wouldn’t ride or drive a two wheeler. She saw one of these, then a test ride around the parking lot that turned into a have to make her stop and get off after 20 minutes! I bought it two days later and she got her license in less than a week after. Now she will ride with me at ANY opportunity!!!

Joe

Not seeing the Spyder as just another step forward for motorcycling, to my own way of thinking, is not seeing motorcycling move forward at all.
It is not just for the knee sliders to have the wind in their hair, to feel the g’s in a turn or a quick launch. When folks age they start to think of a way to continue to ride that is safe, and the Spyder is the answer. Unlike, trikes, it has no tip over problems. There is enough advance technology on these trikes to launch a spacecraft.
Just because “you” believe there is ONLY one way to move down the highway does not mean everyone has to think and believe as you do or they are just old, disabled, geriatric wannabees.
106 hp moves these old people’s rides right along and they don’t have to worry in a curve if their front wheel will washout and slam their soft on the outside, hard on the inside bodies into the hard pavement and gravel for the next 100 feet.
You ride what you like, let them ride what they like, and just share the darned road. Cheeeeeeze.
Joe

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